TRNC's Talat meets with president Gul

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday met with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, ahead of his meeting next Wednesday with Greek Cypriot administration leader Dimitris Christofias. Afterwards, Talat told a joint press conference that Christofias' recent actions could make the talks come to nothing. Asked if the Cyprus issue could be affected by Russia's controversial move this week to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Talat said, "Frankly, I think that it will be affected, but I can't say how." For his part, Gul said, "The Cyprus question has aspects that are more positive and advantageous. First of all, this question isn't a result of the Cold War. It is totally different from the recent crisis. Secondly, Turkish and Greek Cypriots founded the Republic of Cyprus together, they were partners. Problems emerged because the partnership didn't work and its requirements were not fulfilled. That's where the difference lies."